The City of Saint Paul—Minnesota’s capital and home to more than 300,000 people—has a history of policy and actions dedicated to reducing the impacts of climate change. Through the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate Energy, Saint Paul made a pledge in 2015 to undertake an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions, set emissions reduction targets, and to develop a climate action plan. In December 2019, the City Council adopted the Saint Paul Climate Action & Resilience Plan as a framework for achieving carbon neutrality in city operations by 2030 and citywide by 2050.

PORTFOLIO-WIDE LEADERSHIP COMMITMENTS

100% GHG reduction by 2030
 

The City of Saint Paul joined the Better Climate Challenge in 2023 with a baseline year of 2015 to support its efforts to reach carbon neutrality in municipal operations. Saint Paul will target a 9% annual reduction in scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions across a portfolio of more than 100 city-owned and operated buildings with a total of nearly 2.3 million square feet. The City will reduce operational emissions by continuing to invest in energy-efficient building improvements using its Green Revolving Loan Fund, increasing municipal purchases and installations of renewable energy, converting municipal streetlights to LEDs, and identifying opportunities for electrifying and right-sizing the city’s fleet.